Plant-A-Row

Plant A Row

Sunday, July 29th, 2018
Plant A Row program has helped the hungry over the years (In The Garden)
By David James for the Daily Courier

It was the summer of '95 when Jeff Lowenfels, garden writer for the Anchorage Daily News, received a call from the city's local soup kitchen explaining that they were having a drop in donations, a result in the slumping economy at the time.
Alaska's long days of summer are perfect for growing vegetables, especially those in the cabbage family, and after a plea in his column, local gardeners responded with home grown produce, helping to put more food on the kitchen's table.
Lowenfels took the idea a step further, encouraging local gardeners to plant a little extra in their gardens, donating the excess to the local food kitchen. He called it Plant A Row and the local gardening community responded and the program grew over the years.
Fast forward seven years: Lowenfels became president of the Garden Writers Association and launched the Plant A Row project on a national level.
Garden writers were asked to encourage their readers to plant a little extra and donate it to their local food bank or food kitchen.
Since the program started on a national level, more than 20 million pounds of produce have been donated by American gardeners, enough to provide over 80 million meals.
It should be noted that this has been achieved without any government subsidy or bureaucratic red tape, just people helping people.
On a local level, the Plant A Row program has seen its highs and lows. Having written this column for 35 years, I have a unique perspective of being able to look back in time at old articles describing local Plant A Row efforts.
In 2010, "season's total saw 47,356 pounds of produce grown and donated with more than 200 people participating."
A Plant A Row committee was established, meeting monthly to encourage local Plant A Row activities, including staff from the Josephine County Food Bank, Oregon State University Extension and Greenleaf, along with dedicated gardeners and Master Gardeners.
The year 2011 saw the first season of Raptor Creek Farm producing more than 50,000 pounds of produce and the following year another 50,000-plus pounds.
In 2012, between Raptor Creek and Plant A Row gardeners, more than 112,000 pounds of fresh fruit and produce was grown, harvested and fed to local people in need.
Six years later Plant A Row totals have dropped significantly. Raptor Creek Farm produce totals has seen yearly declining harvest totals since 2012 and fewer home gardeners are making the effort to share their bounty.
In 2017, the Reaching Our Community food pantry, which feeds 4,200 people each month, received 4,913 pounds of fresh produce from home gardeners.
Forty percent of people receiving ROC distributed food are children, with 28 percent under the age of 11 and 40 percent of adults receiving food aid are retired or disabled.
There are still some dedicated organizations and gardeners that are continuing to support the Plant A Row concept.
Greenleaf Industries donated 754 pounds to the ROC last year. Program director Nick Smith apologized a bit when giving me this information, mentioning the program has averaged more than 1,500 pounds annually over the past four years but last year was a bit of a down garden year.
The 2018 garden at the Gospel Rescue Mission has been mighty productive so far this year. Their 27 raised beds have produced a bounty helping to feed residents.
Brian Bouteller, director of resident services and garden coordinator mentioned they have donated over 800 pounds of excess produce to the ROC so far this year, in addition to supplying their own kitchen.
Got extra fruit or veggies? Take them to the ROC, 564 Foundry St., right next door to the Gospel Rescue Mission. The best days to take produce to the ROC are Wednesday and Friday mornings from 9 a.m. until noon; the following days are when they distribute food.
Another drop off location is the Josephine County Food Bank, 3658 Upper River Road.
Finally, donate good quality produce. Avoid those giant cucumbers and zucchini and wormy apples.
If you don't want to eat it, don't give it away as a "gift."
Become a Plant A Row gardener this year. Share your garden.
It's harvest time!

The Rogue Gardeners concentrate on three major Plant-A-Row activities

Home Gardens